Apparatus for closing a package



N0v 7, 1967 A. F. RODRIGUES APPARATUS FOR CLOSNG A PACKAGE Filed Jan. 8, 1965 INVENTOR ANTHONY E RODR/GUES United States Patent O ABSTRACT F THE DISCLQSURE Apparatus for filling and closing a flexible package for a fragile article having means for holding the tube while the article is placed inside of one pocket thereof, means for then closing the one pocket, and means for turning another pocket of the ilexible tube inside out over the rst pocket while -inilating the second pocket.

The present invention relates to apparatus for closing a package in a predetermined manner to place an article holding pocket or wall means inside of a shock absorbing chamber.

It is the general object of the invention to provide an improved apparatus for iilling and closing a package for a fragile article.

It -is another object of the invention to provide means for closing and inflating a package for afragile article so that the article is suspended inside the package and inside of a chamber with shock absorbing material placed therein.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the package closing apparatus with the package in place in the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the bubble package in a partially inverted and inflated condition.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view with certain parts shown in dotted lines illustrating the package in the linal step of closing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The present apparatus is designed for use with a package of the type disclosed in the copending application of William Harry Abildgaard, Serial No. 361,975, tiled Apr. 23, 1964, for Package and Packaging Method for Fragile Articles.

The package adapted to be closed by the instant apparatus will be rst described. Referring to FIG. l there is illustrated a package comprising in its unfolded condition a thermoplastic body or sleeve 10 of a suitable plastic material such as vinyl which is preferably formed by dipmolding on a hollow metal mold. This body 10 is generally tubular in form and has adjacent its lower portion a slightly enlarged article receiving portion or pocket 12. Spaced below this article receiving portion 12 is a tubular end portion 14 which is preferably closed as molded, although it may be formed in open condition and subsequently closed. Spaced from the article receiving portion 12 at the other end of the body is a large chamber forming portion 16 terminating in a tubular end portion 18 of the body as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. A fragile article, for example, an electronic tube 21, is inserted into the article receiving pocket 12 of the blank or body 10 and adjacent to this electronic tube 21 is a tubular portion which may be closed by tying or by heat sealing. A rolled culi 22 is provided at the end of the tubular portion 18.

3,350,838 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 As shown the article closing apparatus comprises a cylinder 31 having a piston 32 movably mounted therein. The upper end of the piston 32 as shown is provided with an annular recess 33 for receiving the cuff 22 which is stretched outwardly and seated in this annular groove 33 as shown in full lines in FIG. 1. At the same time the piston 32 is provided with a cylindrical projection 34 which is tubular in form and is adapted to receive the end 14 of the package or body. Spaced from its upper end including the grooved portion 33, the cylinder 31 is suitably apertured or slotted to pass two slidable fork members or heating elements 36 and 37 (FIGS. 1 and 4) having forked ends 3S and 39 to embrace the tubular portion immediately above the article receiving pocket 12 and having flat surfaces 38a and 39a to engage and seal the tubular portion 15 by heat sealing action as shown at 36 in FIG. 2.

Subsequently the clamping members 36 and 37 are Withdrawn and as the piston moves upwardly, the chamber portion 16 of the package is turned inside out as shown in FIG. 2 and the chamber formed thereby is filled with a gas, usually air, which is forced from within the cylinder into this chamber. If the cylinder is the proper capacity to iill the chamber to the desired extent no additional gas may be desired, but if additional gas is needed it can be introduced through the tube 41. If desired, other components can be introduced with the gas such as a cooling medium or a solid insulating medium such as expanded plastic foam in granular form.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3 a tie 43 is placed about the overlapping end portions 14 and 13 of the body which are secured together either by tying or heat sealing so as to close the package. Subsequently, the cuf 22 can be removed from the groove 33 and a closed package is provided.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the apparatus, it will be apparent that the apparatus is capable of variation and modification `from the form shown, so that the scope of the invention is to be determined only by the proper scope and interpretation of the claims appended hereto.

Wh-at I claim is:

1. In apparatus for closing a package for a fragile article which package comprises a body of resilient flexible material having in its initial unfolded condition an intermediate article-engaging wall means and two end portions, and in the folded condition of said body said end portions being engaged and secured together, and in said folded conditions said article-engaging wall means encompassing an article therein, and said article-engaging wall means with the article therein being encompassed by a flexible wall providing a shock absorbing chamber around said article; said apparatus comprising a cylinder and working piston in said cylinder, said cylinder having means for receiving one end of said body, and said piston having means for engaging the other end of said body, said piston when in retracted position from said one end of said cylinder holding said body in an extended position with said other end in closed condition and said one end in open position, whereby an article can be placed in said body inside of said article-engaging means, means supported by said cylinder for closing said body immediately adjacent the article therein so that said article is encompassed in said article-engaging wall means, and said piston upon movement from said retracted position toward said one end of said cylinder serving to move said article-engaging Wall means above said cylinder, and to turn said one end portion inside out as said piston moves upwardly, said one end portion and said second end portion being then disposed in substantial alignment to allow securing of said one end portion and said second end portion together to close the package.

2. In an apparatus as recited in claim l, which includes passage means for introduction of a shock absorbing medium into said one end portion when turned inside out.

3. In apparatus for closing a package for a fragile article which package comprises a body of resilient exible material having in its initial unfolded condition an intermediate article-engaging wall means and two end portions, and in the folded condition of said body said end portions being engaged and secured together, and in said folded condition said article-engaging wall means encompassing an article therein, and said article-engaging Wall means with the article therein being encompassed by a exible wall providing a shock absorbing chamber around said article; -said apparatus comprising a cylinder and Working piston in said cylinder, said cylinder having formed about the outside thereof adjacent one end means for receiving one end of said body, and said piston having means for engaging the other end of said body, said piston when in a retracted position from said one end of said cylinder holding said body in an extended position with said other end in closed condition and said one end in open position, whereby an article can be placed in said body inside of said article engaging means, means supported by said cylinder for closing said body immediately adjacent the article therein so that said article is effectively encompassed in said article-engaging wall means, and said piston upon movement from said retracted position toward said one end of said cylinder serving to move said article-engaging wall means above said cylinder, and to turn said one end portion inside out as said piston moves upwardly and forces the gas within said cylinder into said one end portion being then disposed in substantial alignment to allow securing of -said one end portion and said second end portion together to close the package.

4. In apparatus for closing a package for a fragile article which package comprises `a body of resilient ilexible material having in its initial unfolded condition an intermediate article-engaging wall means and two end portions, and in the folded condition of said body said end portions being engaged and secured together, and in said folded condition said article-engaging Wall means encompassing an article therein, and said article-engaging wall means with the article therein being encompassed by a flexible Wall providing a shock absorbing chamber around said article; said apparatus comprising a cylinder, a rst relatively movable member and a second relatively movable member respectively engaging said body adjacent the respective ends thereof to hold it in an extended position, means supported by said cylinder for closing said body immediately adjacent the article therein so the article is eiiectively encompassed in said article engaging Wall means, said members being relatively movable to each other to turn one end portion of said body inside out and to place the article-engaging wall means of said body inside of said inside out portion, and to place said other end portion in overlapping relation with the said one end portion to enable securing of said end portions together to complete the package.

5. In apparatus as recited in claim 4, which includes means for inating said inside-out portion.

6. In apparatus as recited in claim '4, which includes means for introducing a shock-absorbing means in said chamber.

7. In apparatus as recited in claim 4, which includes means for introducing an article treating medium in said chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. 

4. IN APPARATUS FOR CLOSING A PACKAGE FOR A FRAGILE ARTICLE WHICH PACKAGE COMPRISING A BODY OF RESILIENT FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING IN ITS INITIAL UNFOLDED CONDITION AN INTERMEDIATE ARTICLE-ENGAGING WALL MEANS AND TWO END PORTIONS, AND IN THE FOLDED CONDITION OF SAID BODY SAID END PORTIONS BIENG ENGAGED AND SECURED TOGETHER, AND IN SAID FOLDED CONDITION SAID ARTICLE-ENGAGING WALL MEANS ENCOMPASSING AN ARTICLE THEREIN, AND SAID ARTICLE-ENGAGING WALL MEANS WITH THE ARTICLE THEREIN BEING ENCOMPASSED BY A FLEXIBLE WALL PROVIDING A SHOCK ABSORBING CHAMBER AROUND SAID ARTICLE; SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A CYLINDER, A FIRST RELATIVELY MOVABLE MEMBER AND A SECOND RELATIVELY MOVABLE MEMBER RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID BODY ADJACENT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS THEREOF TO HOLD IT IN AN EXTENDED POSITION, MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID CYLINDER FOR CLOSING SAID BODY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE ARTICLE THEREIN SO THE ARTICLE IS EFFECTIVELY ENCOMPASSED IN SAID ARTICLE ENGAGING WALL MEANS, SAID MEMBERS BEING RELATIVELY MOVABLE TO EACH OTHER TO TURN ONE END PORTION OF SAID BODY INSIDE OUT AND TO PLACE THE ARTICLE-ENGAGING WALL MEANS OF SAID BODY INSIDE OF SAID INSIDE OUT PORTION, AND TO PLACE SAID OTHER END PORTION IN OVERLAPPING RELATION WITH THE SAID ONE END PORTION TO ENABLE SECURING OF SAID END PORTIONS TOGETHER TO COMPLETE THE PACKAGE. 